Yale Hockey Announces Class of 2013

May 19, 2009

May 19, 2009

The Yale men's hockey team, coming off its best season ever in 2008-09, could be getting better. The Bulldogs, who won a school record 24 games and three different championships, announced their class of 2013. Keith Allain '80, the Malcolm G. Chace Head Coach of Hockey, has three forwards, two defensemen and a goalie joining the squad next fall.

Here are the six new Yale Bulldogs.

Josh Balch

Forward

5-9 180

Wilmette, Illinois

Before Yale: Played two seasons in the USHL for the Des Moines Buccaneers and the Chicago Steel... Played nine seasons with AAA Chicago Young Americans... Had jersey retired and amassed over 1,600 points... Earned gold medal on Team USA at the 2008 World Junior A Challenge... Leading scorer in the MWEHL in 2007-08... National Honor Society member... Played two years of high school lacrosse and one year of golf at New Trier High School... Personal: Joshua Balch is the son of Michael and Helen Balch... Three younger brothers all play hockey.

Colin Dueck

Defenseman

6-2 210

Calgary, Alberta

Before Yale: Played two seasons with the Camrose Kodiaks before joining the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCJHL... Skated in 80 games for the Kodiaks with eight goals and 14 assists... Had 7-11-18 with the Clippers in 36 games played during 2008-09... Kodiaks were 2007-08 regular season champions, AJHL Enerflex Cup Champions, Doyle Cup Champions and RBC Cup silver medalists... Kodiaks Scholastic Player of the Year... Attended Springbank Community High School... Honors with distinction every year... Highest average for English for grades 10, 11 and 12... Grande Prairie Storm RBC Legacy Scholarship... Friends of Alberta Junior Hockey Society Scholarship... Kyle Stuart Memorial Scholarship... Personal: Colin Thomas Dueck is the son of Weldon and Pauline Dueck.

Jesse Hudkins

Defense

6-1 205

Calgary, Alberta

Before Yale: Skated for the Okotoks Oilers the last three winters at defense and forward and had 27 goals and 74 points... Oilers Unsung Hero Award 2008... Oilers Rock Solid Player Award 2009... Midget AAA Royals Defensive Player Award 2006... Played for the Royals for three years... Attended Central Memorial High - National Sports Academy in Southwest Calgary... Alexander Rutherford High School Achievement Scholarship... Achieved honors throughout high school.. Friends of Alberta Junior A Hockey Scholarship 2006-07... Dale Dupont Scholarship 2005-06... Personal: Jesse Ron Hudkins is the son of Darren and Cindy Hudkins... Interested in environmental engineering.

Antoine Laganiere

Forward

6-4 190

Ile Cadieux, Quebec

Before Yale: Played two winters for Deerfield Academy and had 68 points in 58 games as a center... Skated with Chateauguay Patriots in the Midget AAA in Quebec for two years... His 2005-06 team won the provincial title and finished third at the national championships... Had 48 points in 64 games and was second among rookies with 22 post-season points... Earned MVP honors at all-star game... Drafted in fifth round by Quebec Major Junior Team... Had 50 points in 47 games while serving as assistant captain in 2006-07... Won Governor General Award for best GPA in graduating class at Patriotes-de-Beauharnois High School... Won the de la Medaille D'Or" as one of the top two students in the Midget AAA circuit... Won the TELUS Cup for best student-athlete in the league... Made honor roll at Deerfield... Personal: Antoine Charles Langaniere is the son of Michel Laganiere and Janet Crosby... Interested in architecture major... Accomplished piano player who also plays guitar.

Nick Maricic

Goalie

6-2 210

Alta Loma, California

Before Yale: Played in the national team development program for two years before joining the Tri-City Storm of the USHL in 2008-09... NAHL North Division Player of the Week (Sept. 2007) as member of USA U18 team... 2007 Four Nations Cup Champions with US Team... 2006 USA Hockey Midget AAA National Champions with California Wave... Made honor roll for two years at Damien High in LaVerne, Calif., and another two at Pioneer High in Ann Arbor, Mich... Personal: Nicholas Andrew Maricic is the son of George and Diane Maricic... He started playing hockey on rollerblades in the streets.

Andrew Miller

Forward

5-9 165

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Before Yale: 2008-09 USA Jr. Player of the Year... Led the USHL in scoring in 2008-09 and was the league's "player" and "forward" of the year skating for Chicago Steel as assistant captain... Two-time first-team all-state pick and league MVP his senior year at Cranbrook Kingswood... Led the state in scoring his senior year with 83 points... Michigan High School Mr. Hockey 2007... Michigan High School Dream Team 2007... Helped school win state championships in 2005-06 and 2006-07... All-American lacrosse player who was a three-time all-state pick and led Michigan in scoring with 94 points his junior year... Personal: Andrew Robert Miller IV is the son of Andrew and Nancy Miller... Interested in economics and business... Worked as lacrosse coach at Cranbrook Kingswood in 2008-09.